Amunds faces two challengers in District 4 Okaloosa Commission race

Published: Tuesday, June 10, 2014 at 06:13 PM.

Okaloosa County Commissioner Don Amunds will defend his District 4 seat against at least two challengers in the upcoming August primary.

Two fellow Republicans – Trey Goodwin and Henry Kelley – have pre-filed to run in the District 4 race.

Amunds, who doesn’t hold a job in addition to his county office, gives residents his home phone number and touts himself one of the board’s few full-time commissioners.

“The public needs someone there all day, every day,” he said. “With the way the county is growing, it needs to be a full-time position.”

The job, considered part-time by the state, pays an annual salary of $67,620 in Okaloosa County.

Amunds, who lives in Wynnhaven Beach, said his record over the past decade shows that he’s dedicated to spending the public’s money wisely.

“I made a promise that I wouldn’t raise property taxes or gas taxes and I haven’t,” he said. “Anybody can run for office and tell people what they’re going to do, but if they don’t follow through, what good is it?”

Amunds was first elected in 2004 to finish the term of former Commissioner Paula Riggs. He was re-elected in 2006 and again in 2010.

Henry Kelley, who lives in Fort Walton Beach, said he brings a wide variety of experience the commission. In addition to being the general manager at Akers of Strawberries in Baker, he serves as an adjunct professor for the Florida Institute of Technology and as the chief financial officer of a local tourism-based company.

“I’m tired of the shenanigans that keep us from being the best county in Florida,” he said. “It’s time for the county to be represented by the common people in the community.”

Kelley said one of his top concerns is improving the county’s infrastructure such as roads and storm water drainage – but without raising taxes.
“I will not kick this can down the road,” he said. “This problem will be addressed if I am elected.”

Local attorney Trey Goodwin, who lives in Fort Walton Beach, stepped down from his seat on the Fort Walton Beach City Council in late 2013 to enter the District 4 race.

“My primary reason for running is I want to try to bring county spending under control,” he said. “I stand in opposition to those who believe government can take whatever it wants whenever it wants.”

Goodwin said he will return “honesty and integrity and accountability” to the District 4 seat.

“I’ll watch out for senior citizens and others living on fixed incomes,” he said.

WANT TO GO?

The Okaloosa County Republican Executive Committee and Northwest Florida Daily News will hold candidate forums at 6 p.m. Monday at Niceville City Hall. Candidates in the District 4 and District 2 races have been invited to participate. Submit questions to the candidates at elections@nwfdailynews.com

Okaloosa County Commissioner Don Amunds will defend his District 4 seat against at least two challengers in the upcoming August primary.

Two fellow Republicans – Trey Goodwin and Henry Kelley – have pre-filed to run in the District 4 race.

Amunds, who doesn’t hold a job in addition to his county office, gives residents his home phone number and touts himself one of the board’s few full-time commissioners.

“The public needs someone there all day, every day,” he said. “With the way the county is growing, it needs to be a full-time position.”

The job, considered part-time by the state, pays an annual salary of $67,620 in Okaloosa County.

Amunds, who lives in Wynnhaven Beach, said his record over the past decade shows that he’s dedicated to spending the public’s money wisely.

“I made a promise that I wouldn’t raise property taxes or gas taxes and I haven’t,” he said. “Anybody can run for office and tell people what they’re going to do, but if they don’t follow through, what good is it?”

Amunds was first elected in 2004 to finish the term of former Commissioner Paula Riggs. He was re-elected in 2006 and again in 2010.

Henry Kelley, who lives in Fort Walton Beach, said he brings a wide variety of experience the commission. In addition to being the general manager at Akers of Strawberries in Baker, he serves as an adjunct professor for the Florida Institute of Technology and as the chief financial officer of a local tourism-based company.

“I’m tired of the shenanigans that keep us from being the best county in Florida,” he said. “It’s time for the county to be represented by the common people in the community.”

Kelley said one of his top concerns is improving the county’s infrastructure such as roads and storm water drainage – but without raising taxes.
“I will not kick this can down the road,” he said. “This problem will be addressed if I am elected.”

Local attorney Trey Goodwin, who lives in Fort Walton Beach, stepped down from his seat on the Fort Walton Beach City Council in late 2013 to enter the District 4 race.

“My primary reason for running is I want to try to bring county spending under control,” he said. “I stand in opposition to those who believe government can take whatever it wants whenever it wants.”

Goodwin said he will return “honesty and integrity and accountability” to the District 4 seat.

“I’ll watch out for senior citizens and others living on fixed incomes,” he said.

WANT TO GO?

The Okaloosa County Republican Executive Committee and Northwest Florida Daily News will hold candidate forums at 6 p.m. Monday at Niceville City Hall. Candidates in the District 4 and District 2 races have been invited to participate. Submit questions to the candidates at elections@nwfdailynews.com